November 01, 2007

Sewing Heck

I've got a friend who owns a really big truck, it's called the Ultimate Bohemouth (spelling?). This friend just accepts the fact that because he owns this huge truck, people will ask him for help moving. It just goes with the territory. The same is true for a seamstress or artist. When I art directed events at Disneyland, people assumed that I should be the one to twist the streamers at their kid's birthday party. Obviously. Because I sew, I can make anything. There's only one way to make an item of clothing, so I should know how much fabric it takes etc. Do you get this too? Being a seamstress also makes me a little dumb. I tend to agree to making the things people ask for. I always say I'll do it if I get enough time, then I get the supplies at the last minute and spend long nights crying away at my sewing machine, kicking myself for saying yes in the first place.

As you may have guessed, I'm having one of these experiences now. I am currently working on a Star Trek costume for a friend. It's the worst pattern I've ever used, the worst instructions, and I thought I was only making a jacket when I agreed 6 months ago. No, I'm making a jacket, pants and a belt. Thank goodness they didn't bother sending the pattern for the tunic or I'd be making that too. I got the so-called instruction booklet on Monday night and this costume needs to be mailed and received by Tuesday. I spent all of yesterday cutting it out, what a nightmare. I could go on & on about how bad this project is. I'll just stop while I'm ahead. I just wanted to give you a little piece of advice, just say NO!
May the force be with you, errrr Beam me up, Scotty. Please!

p.s. Thanks Jenn for letting me vent about this to you last night.

10 comments:

Jenn Maruska said...

Maybe the next time you see your friend, you should tell him about how much you've learned doing this project...

...like the Vulcan Death Grip, for instance!!!

; D

LeeAnn said...

Maybe you can use the pattern photo as a dart board after your done. Revenge is yours! Hahhahha!

Bee said...

Oh I feel so bad for you! Hang in there you are a great friend.

Louise said...

I get this all the time!! But I'm good at saying NO! Good luck it looks like a hideous task.

Anonymous said...

I can't say no either. I'm getting ready to start though... I had a horrible day yesterday all because I couldn't turn down a job.

Christina J. said...

I understand that. People ask me to make jewelry for them quite often. I have learned to say no, or to tell them what the price of a beadwoven piece of jewelry can cost, which often works as well as saying no. :) It seems like making the jewelry is also supposed to include me buying all the materials. Why is that? It was a great day when I learned how to say no and I get some practice every once in a while. :) Good luck!

Jenn Maruska said...

I feel bad for your friend's wife.

Vulcans have no emotions.

And they mate once every 7 years.

Heidi Ortega said...

I am with Christina - I have learned to tell people how much It will cost instead of just saying no - it usually works just as well, or i end up with some extra cash - it is so hard when it is a friend. I find my busiest no times are halloween and christmas.... as if I am not busy enough! Take comfort in the karma youve earned...

Felicia said...

Glad everything worked out with the costume! I know what you mean about being asked to make things. I must get better at saying no so I don't disappoint! :)

Mrs.Kwitty said...

Don't you just HATE that! lol I have gotten really good at saying NO to people.

I have really bad luck following patterns...for some reason they never turn out the way they look on the package, lol.

A good friend of mine once told someone who asked me to mend a pair of their pants "Asking Karen to mend your pants is like asking Michaelangelo to paint your bathroom!" I love that! Not really true, but nice to hear anyways.

Now go and get your 400 sock monkey pouches done in time for Christmas!

Smiles, Karen